PrintJuly 30, 2008
The Edwards scandal is now an MSM scandal
Roughly a week has passed since the National Enquirer revealed what it alleged to be evidence of John Edwards and his love child. The Enquirer had confronted Edwards in the early hours of the morning, leaving a hotel room where his alleged former girlfriend and alleged mother of his love child was staying. Edwards ran away.
The major media have virtually ignored the entire story, despite what appears to be rather convincing evidence assembled by the Enquirer. Fox News was able to find a corroborating witness, but the rest of the media has 86'd the story, despite its obvious appeal to a public that can't get enough when it comes to scandal. The UK media is not quite as squeamish.
Hillel Aron reviews the sorry media record to date. The media blocking coverage are only digging their own graves. It is no longer possible to embargo news that the media deems politically unpalatable. Edwards is a leading figure in the leftist wing of the Democratic Party, and his name has been bandied about as a VP choice for Obama.
Meanwhile, The Enquirer keeps digging, and reports it has found a money trail:
John Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter - the mother of his "love child" - has been secretly receiving $15,000 a month as part of an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by the former presidential contender.
The money is being funneled to Hunter by a wealthy colleague who was closely tied to the Edwards' campaign. This same man is also shoveling cash to Edwards' pal and former aide Andrew Young - who tried to take the heat off the ex-Senator by claiming he is the father of Rielle's baby. [....]
"A super-rich pal - who was closely involved with the campaign finances - is helping John. It's likely this man doesn't know all the dirty details of John's extramarital affair, but is acting out of loyalty and is not asking a lot of questions - only writing the checks," revealed a source very close to the situation.
This is all somewhat vague, but the words "money laundering" may eventually come into play. If money is being funneled, have all the relevant taxes been paid?
Assuming the reports are true, and that legal lines were crossed in concealing money transfers, Edwards' scandal could become a crime story.
The credibility of the media has never been lower. Their attempts to wish away a juicy story about a leading left wing politician will not help.
Hat tip: Lucianne.com
